The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-17
A PosTMAsrER's oFFENsE.
The Milton Postmaster Pleads Guilty
to Defrauding the Government.


From the Pensacola (F7a.) Commercial.
Last Saturday, John Carlovtz, the post
master at Milton, Fla, was arraigned be-
fore United States Commissioner Humph-
reys in this city, on charge OF defraudlng
the government by an excess OF cancellation;
Defendant pleaded guilty, and gave bond
| for his appearance at the March term of the
United States Court
Carlovitz is an old Union soldier, and has
held tie position of postmaster at Milton,
since 1882; the retention of his services after
the national administration changed hands
is believed to have been in consideration OF
his record as a soldier.
His ofense, which is one of very general
commission in fourth-class offices, was of
this nature: His salary was proportionate
to the value of stamps Cancelled in his office,
and he, from day to day, recorded an ex-
cess Of the actual cancellation Inspector
Boykin, who worked up the case, says Car
lovitz has played the excess game for a
number of years, and succeeded in getting
a salary of nearly 81 100 per annum from
an office that should yield ordinarily about
$3.50
The manner in which otfenses of this
character are detected by the inspectors is
of the simplest nature, and they are GER
tainly novlces who attempt to defraud the
government by an excess of cancellation.
The case of Carlovitz will very well serve
as an illustration of nearly every detection.
1t was noticed at headquarters that Carlo
Wits sale of stamps for a quarter was al
ways inferior to the amount of stamps can
celled for the same period, and the discrep-
ancy was so great that the question natu-
rally arose where did the output of stamps
come frons Then the Inspector who was
put to work on the case, assisted by
the route mail agent. took all the mail that
left the Milton po5toffice, from the mail
pouch, and checked the amount of stamps
cancelled. THIS he did every day for
month. OF course Carlovitz kept a daily
record of his cancellation, and the excess re-
corded by him was readily detected when
compared with the actual cancellation as
checked from the mail pouch.
CarlovitZ told the inspector, when admit
ting his guilt, that his only regret was that
matters had not been looked after more
closely five years ago, when he would not be
in the predicament i'll which he was now
placed.
Inspector Boykin SAYS the Milton post
office is otherwise admirably administered,
there being not better fourth class office
in five States
AS remarked at the beginning of this
item, Carlovltz's offence Is very common
one, and, under Republican administra-
ton, was carried to extremes. The present
administration was not little perplexed to
notice, shortly after their advent to power,
vast falling off in the cancellation of
stamps as compared with the reports under
their predecessors, and it was only after an
exhaustive effort TO ascertain the cause that
the real reasons were determined The
fourth-class poStnasters. fearing detection
under Democratic administration, had be-
gun to make honest returns. 1t was upon
the report Of Inspector Baird, to whom the
idea was suggested by Postmaster Yonge,
of this city, embracing the excess-of-cancel-
lation theory that Congress made the APP
preparation TO detray the expenses Of an in
spection of fourth-class offices, and the fact
is another and very decided victory for
the present administration.
Carlovitz was the moving spirit in the or
ganization Of the fourth class postnasters,
which is shortly to meet in convention at
Washington, for the purpose OF urging up
on Congress the necessity for providing
more adequate remuneration of the SER
vices of fourth-class postmasters.